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VI. 
DESCRIPTION 



OP 



NEW NETHERLAND. 



1671. 



Translated from De Nieuwe en Onbekende "Weereld: of Beschryving van America 
en 't Zuidland: door Arnoldus JIontanus. Amsterdam, 1671. 



Vol. IV. 



f 

r 

o 

- NEW NETHEKLAND. 

O 

^ New Netherland bounded on tlie south west by Virginia^ 

Description and stretclics Oil tlie noi'tli cjist to A''ew Eng-land, on the 

discovery o/ New " 

Netheriand. nortli it Is washed by tlie river Canada, and on the 
coast by tlie- Ocean : nortli vvesterl}-, inland, it remains wliolly 
milaiown. The first wlio discovered tliis country was Henry 
Hudson. Engnged by tlie East India Company to find out a 
passage to China north of JLacrica, lie set sail with the Yacht 
Half Moon, in the year sixteen liundred and nine. In front of 
Jfewjuundlitnd he took a course directly southwest ; entered a 
large river ; there [met] two men clothed in Elk skins, and sub- 
sequently arrived safe at Amsterdam. JYew JVttherland being 
thus discovered, divers traders set about establishing a stable 
trade here. Wherefore tliey sought for and obtained a charter 
in the year sixteen hundred and fourteen, from the States Gen- 
eral at tlie Hague, to trade to J^ew A''dherland to the exclusion 
of all others. J^rnestly, now, was tlie trade prosecuted. 
Jidriaea Blok and Godyn soon discovered here divers coasts, 
islands, liarbours and rivers. Among the rivers is the Manhat- 
tans or Great river, by far the most important, which disem- 
bogues into the Ocean by two wide mouths, washing the mighty 
island Matouwacs. Tlie south entrance was called Port May 
or Godyn^s Bay : Midway lies Statcn Island, and a 

River Maiiiiattans ,.,,,, i »r » -ii i 

little lurther up, the Manhattans, so called from 
the people wliicli inhabit the mainland on the east side of the 
river. These are cruel and wicked men, enemies of the Dutch, 
as well as of the Sanhikans who dwell on tlie west side. Higher 
up lie tlie Makivaes and Mahikans, who are constantly at war 
with each otlier : in like manner all the inhabitants on the west 
bank of tlie Manhattan riv^er frequently make war on those resi- 
ding on the east side. And the latter in like manner entertain 
constant animosity against the Dutch, with whom the other 
nations to t!ie west maintaifi good friendship. On a little island 



116 DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

adjoining the Makiuaes shore, formerly stood a fort furnished 
witli two guns and. eleven stone pieces, but it was finally aban- 
doned. On the Manhattans island stands .Kew Ainsterdam., five 
miles from the Ocean : Ships run up to the harbour tliere fj-oin 
the sea with one tide. The city hath an earthen fort. Within 
the fort, and on the outermost bastion towards the river, slaiid 
a windmill, and a very high stafi', on which a flag is ho!st(d 
whenever any vessels are seen in Godyn's bay. The cliurch 
rises with a double roof between which a square tower looms 
aloft. On one side is the prison, on tlie other side of the cliurch 
the governor's house. Without the walls are tlie houses mostly 
built by Amsterdamers. On the river side stand the gallows 
and whipi)ing post. A handsome public tavern adorns tlie 
farthest point. Between the fort and tliis tavern is a row of 
suitable dwelling houses : among which stand out tlie ware 
houses of the West India Company. JVtw JVet/ierland b.atli, 
moreover, divers remarkable water falls tumblhig down from 
lofty rocks, broad creeks and kills, fresh lakes and rivulets and 
pleasant springs and fountains, which smoke in 

Wholesome waters. 

Winter, are right cold in summer, and, never tlieless, 
are much drank. Meanwhile tlie inhabitants are at no time 
much incommoded by floods, nor by th^ sea, inasmucli as 
at spring tide the water scarcely ever rises a foot higher ; nor 
by freshets (op water) which cover only some low lands for a 
short while and enricli tliem by their alluvium. The sea coast 
rises hilly out of sand and clay, wlierefore it produces abund- 
antly all sorts of herbs and trees. 

The oak usually grows sixty to seventy feet high, for the most 
part free of knots, for whicli reason it is well adapted 

Trees ; what sort. ■,-,,. r,^, t r- t r- ■ ^ 

to ship building. Ihe Hickory trees lurmsli a hot 
and lasting fire, and a curious appearance whenever the bush is 
cut away either for the purpose of more open hunting or for clear- 
ing tlie ground fur a bouwery. Some plants seat liitlier from Hol- 
land thrive better tlian even in Holland ; namely, tlie apple, pear, 
quince, cherry, plum, currant, apricot, buckthorn, medlar, peach 

and onion. Vines grow wild everywhere and bear in 

Vines. i i i i i i tit 

abundance blue and wlute muscatels and pork grapes 
(^spek-druiven). Some time since, tlie .wine press was successfully 



DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 117 

introduced. The wine was equal to any Rhenisli or French 

Wine. Every vegetable known to the Dutcli is cultivated in 

the o;ardens. Water melons as savorv as they are 

U ater melons " ' i i 

wholesome, are, when ripe, as large as a cai-)hage. 

The Englisli extract a liquor from them which would be no wise 

inferior to Spanish wine did it not turn sour too soon. Gourds 

when cleaned out serve as water vessels. Tobacco produces leaves 

live quarters long. Pumpkins grow luxuriant and agreeable. 

^^^^ Corn sowed in hills six feet apart, sprouts up readily 

and prosperously if properly weeded. Turkish 

beans, planted beside the corn, wind themselves around the stalk. 

Grey peas prosper here so well tliat two crops are 

^^"^ gathered in the year from one field. INIedicinal 

plants and indigo grow wild in abundance. The barley can 

be tied above tlie head. Furthermore, all sorts of flowers 

have a pleasant odor and appearance. The hills consist 

of fullers earth, or clay, fit for making dishes, pots 

""and tobacco pipes. There is, besides, abundance 

of rock crystal and Muscovy glass. Other hills furnish marble, || 

serpentine, blue and hearth stone, A.nd although the Dutch 

have not taken much trouble to dig for minerals, either on 

account of not being numerous enough, or in order not to make 

otlier folks' mouths water, it is nevertlieless incon- 1 

G< i<i aiKt Silver trovcrtible that the subterranean cavities in the hills | 

conceal gold and silver. When Wilhera Kieft, the 
governor, employed, in the year sixteen hundred and forty five, the 
Indian interpreter Agheroense, with a view, through 
Kiefl'seiperimem him to terminate the difficulties which had arisen 
about gold. ijet^^een the West India Company and the cruel 

tribe the Malaoaes, he observed that the said interpreter streak- 
ed his face with a glittering yellow paint. Kieft suspected some 
valuable mineral to be concealed in tliis operation, proposed to 
satisfy Agheroense ; subjected it to the crucible ; obtained two 
pieces of gold worth three guiklers. He kept the matter secret ; 
obtained f -rtunately from the mountain pointed out by Aghe- 
roense, a bucket full of the material, for it furnished gold. 
Kieft now imagined he had made a great discovery & despatched 
Areud Corscn from New Haven to Holland with the stufl'. But 



118 DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

as tlie sliip never made its appearance — which wag 

'^ " '*' ^ ■ also the fate subsequently of the fly boat, the 

Princess, in which the governor was a passenger, who had a 

supply of the abovernentioned mineral, all further exploration 

ceased. Tlie natives divided into various tribes 
paimings.'""' mutually agree in respect to painting their bodies, 

shields, war clubs and tlie lath work witliin tlieir 
huts. For this they use colours extracted either from plants or 
from finely cruslied stones. Tlie principal plant is not unlike 
the Orach or Golden herb, except that the stalk has many shoots 
and red-brown berries j the juice of which collected in tlie inner 
bark of trees, is laid in the sun to dry, and when dried is preserved 
in little pouches. The inhabitants temper the paint with w^ater, 
and then streak the body ; it produces the most beautiful purple 
that can any where be found. Their pictures represent can<>es, 
trees and animals, but very indifferently executed. Instead of 

plumes they bedeck themselves with hair tied with 

Their ornaments. 

small bands. The hair is of a scarlet colour and 
surprizing brilliancy wdiich is permanent and ineffaceable by 
rain. The horses in A''ew JVetherland are brought 
from England or from the diocese of Utreclit". 
Those from the bishopric far excel the English. Both are subject 
to a curious desease whereof manj die within a few 
hours. The same disease attacks horned cattle that 
are pastured on new ground. Eut hay grown in salt meadows 
is found to be a remedy against this. Hogs fatten exceedingly in 
the woods ; those fed on Indian corn give the sweetest pork. 
Slieep, though very tliriving, are not numerous, 
'*'''■ because the settlements cannot spare any persons to 

keep watch against the wolves. Besides, venison is so abund- 
ant that the sheep can on this account be the more easily 
dispensed with. Fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons and 
other feathered game are, also, easily obtained. Lions, wliose 
skins the Indians bring to market, are caught on 
a liigli mountain, situated fifteen days journey to 
the southwest.- Here, also, are many pitcli black 

1 In former times, this diocese included the provinces of Overijsscl atid 
Utreclit. Sec. Martinet's Bescliryving der Nederlandcn, ii., 205; 206 

2 This animal is doubtless the Panther. — Ed. 



DESCRIPTION OF NEW KETHERLAND. 119 

^^S'la'^k? ''*"^"*bears, shy of men, but which, when attacked, spring 
on the liunters ; they first stop the wound with a 
pledget of leaves, and if the hunter, meanwhile, takes refuge in 
a tree, climb after and above him, then stick the head between 
the legs and fall downward. They sleep during winter, lying 
six weeks on one side and an equal time on tlie other, sucking 
their paw. A cripple bush or hollow mountain serves tliem 
for a sleeping place. On the borders of Canada 

Verv strange . •■ . . , 

uiiimiji. animals are now and agaui seen, somewliat resem- 

bling a horse ; they have cloven hoofs, shaggy 
manes, a horn riglit out of tlie forehead, a tail like that of the 
wild hog, black eyes, a stag's neck & love the gloomiest wilder- 
nesses ; are shy of each other so that the male never feeds with 
the female except wlien they associate for purposes of increase. 
Then they lay aside their ferocity ; as soon as the rutting season 
is past, they again not only become wild but even attack their 
, ,. „ own. South of JYew JYet/cerland are found numer- 

Remarlcable elks. 

ous elks, animals which according to Erasmus Stella 
constitute a middle class between horses and deer. They appear 
to derive their Dutch appellation {^edanden) from elende (misery), 
because they die of the smallest wound, however strong they 
may otlierwise be ; also, because they are frequently afflicted 
with epilepsy. They have broad, branching horns, a sliort tail, 
a shaggy neck, variable hair, according to the diflfei^ence of the 
season, wide and long ears, prominent lips, small teeth, a thick 
hide, which cannot be easily pierced. Tlie females separate 
from the males, when they have shed their horns. Both can 
be easily tamed. When hunted they spew hot water out on the 
the dogs. They possess great strength of hoof, so as to strike a 
wolf dead at a blow. Their flesh, either fresli or salted, is very 
nutritious ; tlie hoofs cure the falling sickness. But no game 
is more abundant here tlian deer, which browze 
every where in large herds. When flying before 
wolves or liunters tliey oft times head towards streams, betake 
themselves to tlie water, where they are taken in great numbers, 
for whilst swimming across they get frightened by the echo from 
the mountains raised by the hunters on the opposite bank ; tliey 
dare not, consequently, approach land : meanwhile the hunters 



120 DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

tie branches together, by which the deer, after being chased, are 
sometimes dragged down, JVew Ketkerland also produces many 
muskcats, especially in marshy ground. The animals are parti- 
cularly beautiful ; the skin by its black spots has a handsome 
appearance ; the mouth is full of sliarp teeth, the tails trail far 

behind. Many learned men dispute respecting the 
proceed!'"'"" " clvct, uamcly, whether it be the seed of the civet 

cat. Cardanns so maintains, but he is thoroughly 
refuted on this point by Julius Scaiiger Maitkiolus, whose opin- 
ions many embrace ; he affirms the civet to be tlie sweat of the 
cat, inasmuch as it was gatliered most plentifully whenever these 
animals, wearied by excitement, pant for breath. But wliilst 
the sweat dropt from the whole body, yet as it did not impregnate 
the whole witli musk, it cannot be musk. Otliers consider the 
civet to be an secretion of the cat. These divide all secretions 
into unprofitable, such as sweat, pus, excrement ; or into useful, 
as milk, and semen for production. Civet must be classed 
among the latter, for it is, probably, nothing more than a secre- 
tion from the glands in the vicinity of privy parts, generated in 
the same way as tlie liver secretes the blood ; udders and 
women's breasts, milk ; the ears, wax ; and adders produce 
poison between tlieir fangs. In the meantime cats are embar- 
rassed with tlieir civet, whereof they rid themselves by rubbing 
against trees, and evince friendship for those who, in the sheep- 
fold, rub it off with a spoon. But in addition to otlier wild 
animals JYew Jfetherland furnislies, according to the occular 
evidence of Adriaen van der Do}}k, full eighty thousand beavers 

a year. Pliny relates how these animals castrate 

Plmy, hb. 32 cap. 3. •' ^ 

themselves, and leave these parts to the hunters, 
inasmuch as they are much sought after, being an eflectual 
remedy for mania, retention of the afterbirtli, amenorrhcea, diz- 
ziness, gout, lameness, belly and tooth aches, dullness of vision, 

poisoning and rheumatism. But Pliny commits a 
veVy^'^markabie^ gravc crror ; for the Beavers have very small testi- 
Beavlr?^ ^'^ cl^s fastcncd in such a manner to the back bone 

that they cannot remove them except with life. 
Moreover, they live in the water and on land together in troops, in 
hous^ built of timber over a running stream . The houses excite 



DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 121 

no C( .mmon admiration ; tliey are thus constructed— the Beavers 
first collect together all tlie drift wood whicli they find along the 
river, and whenever this fulls short, they gnaw away, in the next 
adjoining wood, the sweetest bark all around with the front teeth, 
of which they have two in the upper, and two in the lower gum, 
they then cut right around the trunk imtil the tree falls ; when 
they also shorten the pieces in like manner, to adapt them to the 
proposed building. The females carry the pieces on the back, 
the males support it beliind so that it may not fall off. Tlie 
houses rise ingeniously to tlie height of five stories ; they are 
smeared above with clay to protect them from t1ie rain ; in tlie 
middle is a convenient aperture tJirough which to dive into the 
water as soon as they perceive any person. Wherefore, one of 
the troop keeps watch by turns, and in the winter a second keeps 
the water open by constant beating of the tail. The tail is flat- 
tish witliout hair, and most dainty food which in some places is 
served up as a rare delicacy. The beavers go with young sixteen 
weeks ; they bear once a year four young, which cry and suck 
like young children ; for the mother rises on her hind paws and 
gives each two a breast as slie has only two breasts between the 
fore legs ; these legs resemble somewhat those of tlie dog ; the 
hindmost, like tliose of geese, lap in some measure over each 
other. On botli sides of the privy parts lie two swellings 
enclosed in separate membranes. From the privy parts oozes 
ah oleaginous humor, with which they smear all the accessible 
parts of the body in order to keep dry. Inwardly they resemble 
a cut up hog ; they live on leaves and bark ; are excessively at- 
tached to their young ; the wind-hairs which rise glittering above 
the back, fall oft" in the summer, and grow again by the fall ; they 
are short necked, have strong sinews and muscles ; move rapidly 
in the water and on land ; attacked by men or dogs, they bite 
Castor, what. fi^'^ely. The pure Castor, so highly prized by 
physicians, consists of oblong follicles, resembling 
a wrinkled pear which are firmly attached to the os pubis of 
the female beaver ; the Indians cut up tlie little balls of 
the males with their tobacco as they afford no castor. 
The air of New Netherland abounds with all sorts of birds. 



122 DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

Besides falcon, sparrow-hawks, fish-hawks, and 
Kd!" ^' ^^"'' other birds of prey, there are here numbers of 
- Eagles differing from each other ; for some are 
greyish, others browner, except the head, neck, tail and striking 
feathers, which are of a snow white color. All have a strong 
body, bones without marrow, claws as long as a man's finger, 
the bill strong and crooked, the brains dry, the eyes small and 
hollow, the feathers hard, the riglit foot bigger than the left, 
both ill-looking, the blood gross, the excrements highly offen- 
sive. Tliey build their nests in old groves where the ground is 

clear of underwood ; also l^eside water ; as they 
Eagks; their ^^^^ ^^^ g^j^ ^^^^ dcvour all sorts of fowls, and even 

rabbits, liares, tortoises and other four footed game 
that sleep in the open air ; yea, when ahungered, tliey attack 
each other. Some eagles strike their prey at mid-day, others at 
the rising of tlie sun. They fall like lightning on the game tliey 
pursue, as tlie blood of animals serves them for drink. They 
are excessively lascivious, so that they go together more than 
thirty times a day, not only with their own kind, but even with 
the female liawks and slie wolves [wolvinnen). They hatch out 
the large eggs in thirty, and tlie small in twenty days, Tliey 
usually breed two to three young, whose eyes they turn towards 
the sun's rays. If tliese regard the light of heaven without 
blinking they bring them up, otherwise, those that cannot stand 
such a test are drove from the nest. The young, as soon as tliey 
begin to fly, are taken up into the air and, left there to them- 
selves, are sustained by the old birds, who drive them away 
wlienever they are fit to strike at game. Their sharp sightedness 
is most remarkable, for lifted up in the clouds far beyond the 
eye of man, they perceive the smallest fish in the river, and a 
skulking hare in the stubble. Their breath stinks badly, where- 
fore the carcasses on which tiiey feed rot rapidly, and though 
lascivious they are long lived : they die mostly of hunger, as 
the bill becomes by age so crooked that they cannot open any 
tiling. Whereupon tliey finally fly to tlie highest regions 
towards" tlie sun, tumble down into the coldest stream ; they 
pluck out their feathers, clammy with sweat, and thus breathe 
their last. But, besides tlie enumerated birds of prey, there is 



DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 123 

here an innumerable amount of herons, bitterns, ravens, crows, 
owls, swallows, finches, king fishers, hedge si'firrows, woodcocks, 

plieasants and wrens. Tlie wood peckers excel 
Ser'."^"*'' the most in beautiful plumage and crests. These , 

peck large lioles in tlie trees, and thus make a noise 
as of wood cutters laboring in tlie furest. The pigeons t\y in 

such flocks that the Indians designedly rem(»ve to 

Pigeons. 1.11. 1 1 1.1 

tlieir breeding places, where tlie young birds, 
pushed by hundreds from their nests, serve for food during a 
long month for the whole family. JS''ew JYdherland hath, more- 
over, a wonderful little bird, scarcely an incli long, 
pre y 1 e ir . ^^^^j.^ brilliant of plumage, and sucking flowers like 
the bee ; it is so delicate that a dash of water instantly kills it, 
and wiieu dried it is preserved as a curiosity. But this country 
particularly abounds in turkeys, whose number 
""^ *^^' excites no less admiration than tlieir rich flav(»ur 

and their large size ; for they go togetlier in flocks of thirty and 
forty : they weigh some thirty and more pounds ; they are shot 
or are caught with a bait concealing the hook. The waters 
here swarm, in the spring and fall, with swans, geese, wild ducks, 
teals, widgeons, divers, spoonbills and pelicans, besides another 
strange species, unknown in Europe. The streams and lakes, 
rich wuth fishes, furnisli sturgeon, salmon, carp, 
bass, pike, roach, bleak, [N. Y. sliiners ?] all sorts 
of eel, smelt, sun fish, which resembles the bull head in taste, 
and little codfish, which are cauglit near water falls. The sea 
provides crabs, both hard and soft shelled, gurnets, sea horses, 
seals, codfish, shell fish, whiting, herring, makerel, thornbacks, 
plaice, flounders, bream, turtles and oysters, some a foot long 
containing pearls, but few of a brown color. Among the poison- 
ous reptiles which invest Jfcw Xetherlayidh tlie dreadful rattle- 
snake. This is variegated, hath a thick head, four 
long, sharp fangs, and a horny tail with joints 
doubled over each otlier, more or less'according to age, for the 
tail increases one joint each year. Tlie shaking of the tail 
causes a hideous drumming preliminary to its biting. The 
rattle-snake then opens wide its jaws ; the upper one is arched 
and hatli a blue membrance doubled over, from which it shoots 



124 DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

along the fangs a deadly poison. A person wounded by this 
reptile would be cured with difficulty, did the field not produce 
a wholesome antidote, which the Indians carry constantly with 

them. Tliis people is divided into divers nations 
New Naheriandws.all Well sliapcd and strong, having pitcli-black and 

lank hair, as coarse as a horse's tail ; broad 
shoulders ; small waist ; brown eyes and snow white teeth ; they 
are of a sallow color ; abstemious in food and drink. Water 
_, . , , satisfies their tldrst : hidi and low make use of 

Their food. ' ° 

Indian corn and beans, flesh meat and fish prepared 
all alike. The crushed corn is daily boiled to a pap called by 
them sappaen. They observe no set time for meals. Whenever 
hunger demands, the time for eating arrives. Beavers' tails are 
considered the most savory delicacy. Wliilst hunting they live 
some days on roasted corn carried about the person in a little bag. 

A little corn in water swells to a large mass. Henry 
u^'^voyagT^^'^^'^' ' Hiidso7i relatcs, that he entered the river Montaines 

in the latitude of forty degrees and there went 
asliore ; tlie Indians made strange gambols with dancing and 
singing ; carried arrows, the points of which consisted of sharp 
stones, fastened to the wood with pitch ; they sleep under the 
blue sky on little mats of platted leaves of trees ; suck strong 
tobacco ; are friendly but very thievish. Hwlsoii sailed up thirty 
miles higiier ; went into a canoe with an old 7/ic?i««,achief over 
f)rty men and seventeen women, who conducted him ashore. 
Tliey all abode in one house well built of the bark of oak trees. 
Around lay drying more than tliree ship loads of Indian corn 
and beans ; besides the crop that stood luxuriantly in tlie field. 
Hudson scarcely had Ids head under the roof, but he was seated 
on two mats spread out on the floor. Two men immediately 
had orders to shoot game. In the twinkle of an eye these 
brought in pigeons they had killed. A fat dog which had been 
very expertly skinned with shells, was laid also on tlie fire. 
Other preparations were, likewise made for Hu,dson''s good enter- 
tainment, but as he did not intend to pass the night there, he 
did not profit by tliem ; notwithstanding the Indians broke their 
arrows and cast them into the fire so that Hudson may rid himself 



DESCRIPTION OF NEW ^TETHERLAND. 125 

of all fear. The clotliiiig of tlie A''ew JYefherlayiders 
KerfauLi*' ^"^ ^^ ^^^^t suiiiptuous. The \Yomeu ornament them- 
selves more than the men. And although the 
winters are very severe, the}- go naked until their thirteentli 
year J tiie lower parts of tlie girls' bodies only are covered. All 
wear around the waist a girdle made of the fin of the whale or 
of seawant. The men wear between the legs a lap of dulfels 
clotii, or leatlier, lialf an ell broad and nine quarters long j so 
that a square piece hangs behind over the buttocks and in front 
over the belly. The women wear a petticoat down midway the 
leg, very richly ornamented with seawant so that tlie garment 
sometimes costs three hundred guilders. They also wrap the 
naked body in a deer's skin, th^e tips of which swing with thin 
points. A long robe fastened on the right shoulder with a l^not, 
at the waist by a girdle, ser\es the men and women for an upper 
ornament, and by night for a bed cover. Both go, for the most 
part, bare headed. The women bind their hair behind in a 
plait, over which they draw a square cap thickly interwoven 
with seawant. They decorate the ornaments for the forehead 
with the same stuff. Around the neck and arms they wear 
bracelets of seawant, and some around the waist. Shoes and 
stockings were made of Elk hides before the Hollanders settled 
here. Others made shoes even of straw. But since some time 
they prefer Dutch shoes and stockings. The men paint their 
laces of many colors. The women lay on a black spot 
only here and tliere. Both are uncommonly faithful. Their 
houses are lor the most part built after one plan : — they 
differ only in the greater or smaller length : the 

Their houses. i i i • i , 

bread til is invariably twenty leet. The following 
is the mode of construction. They set various hickory poles in 
the ground according to the plan of the size of the building. 
The tops are bent togetlier above in the form of a gallery, and 
throughout the length c?f these bent poles, laths are fastened. 
The walls and roof are tlien, covered with the bark of elm, asli, 
and chestnut trees; the bark is lap])ed over each other as-a 
protection against a change of weather, and the smooth side is 
turned iuward. The houses lodge fifteen families together, more 
or less, according to the dimensions. Each knows its jiropor- 







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T&e latfy isa^ « ssaK 
iSB^Er 'ISk ^wi; it K |Jh"**^ fee a HfeT:' ! ^ Tr«::s:3z?z 
l&i^ rujice besJe- M a ^^ ixeie^ a i^tfSer. afo^ siosnT, aEal 

ftew w«ed aS sn-czotL tbt?:^^ &i^ cps^k- nf^si ^!kife; >3l ±js 
pfa^^ vMc& axe eoc^sed vitk esBE& ani sferaes. in h ^W I rT sec 

fiseeaedM ija^aiajSEasaEF^Btf fiae-fem& iesemifcfe gaBefefet^e:. 

* great ^<:Jm^&^ to vit^ae- sa^ i^bees. Tie- irr*^ ziais- :e* 
Msfe fl««r fee iea£y 1^£ ^e w^aaiHa caEs^r^i mMMinm*— - -■ - 
sCxSse i^er Iweas^ ?^ fv?^ Sges. '5^ t&e i .i-iii» -- 
ceased dsT asd 1 . 

TfeessfcT^aer? 7m..'£T :: 7 ■ - - • 

SlilS T - . " ~ ■ ^ - - - _— 

3S&L. SI 



C'&srtn^lT. — -T aEErSafle to * 

Jkat it lie 3a>. . ' . 

■mann. TS?*? ITiT irtt?*" T "stTT It T^»? Trr. 



128 DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

the enchantment ceases. The language of this 
New Nlihe^riMders.people is vd'y various, but they can be classed into 

four principal tongues, namely, Makatans, Wappa- 
nooj Sicvanoo, and Minquaes ; they are very diJQficult fur strangers 
to learn, as they are spoken without any principles. Their 

monej^ consists of zeawont. fwampuml wliich is 

Zeawant. . i , 

nothn:ig more than the inside little pillars of the 
conckshells, which the sea casts up twice a year. These pillars 
they polish smooth ; drill a hole through the centre ; reduce it 
to a certain size, and string the pieces on threads. The strings 
fill tlie place of gold, silver and copper coin. Great faults, as 

well as virtues, are remarked in the inhabitants ; 
Neihelmders^''"' for bcsidcs bciug slovculy and slothful, they are 

also found to be tliievish, head-strong, greedy and 
vindictive. In other respects they are grave, chary of speech, 
which, after mature consideration, is slowly uttered and long 
remembered. The understanding being somewhat sharpened 
by the Hollandeis., they evince sufficient ability to distinguish 
carefully good from evil. They will not suffer any imposition. 
No wise disposed to gluttony, they are able patiently to endure 
cold, heat, hunger and tliirst. They are remarkably addicted 
.to the use of sweating baths, made of earth and 

Singular hot bath, t -, . , , . n i 

lined witli clay. A small door serves as an entrance, 
Tlie patient creeps in, seats himself down, and places heated 
stones around the sides. Whenever he hath sweated a certain 
time, he immerses himself suddenly in cold water ; from which 
he derives great security against all sorts of sickness. Though 
this people do not make such a distinction between man and 
man as other nations, yet they have high and low families ; infe- 
rior and superior chiefs, whose authority remains hereditarily 
in tlie houses. The military offices are disposed of only accord- 
ing to the valorous prowess of each person. The commander 

does not divide his soldiers into regiments, compa- 

Mode of war. • n o 7 i 

iiies or files, but leads them on merely to overreach 
the enemy from an ambuscade. They undertake the most of 
their expeditions in tlie night. They do not maintain their 
position long against a sudden onslaught, unless surrounded, 
then they fight to the last man. Whene\er they anticipate any 



DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 129 

danger, the women and children are placed in a secure hiding 

place. Their weapons used formerly to be the arrow, bow and 

war club. Tliey now use ihe snap-haunce at whicli 

Weapons. , . i i 

they are very expert. A square shield covers the 
body up to the shoulders. A snake skin is tied around the 
head from the centre of which sticks up a fox's or bear's tail. 
The face is not recognizable on account of its variety of colors. 
Prisoners' hves are rarely spared, unless that of 
mlm"f prisoner!" womcu and Children, who are treated by the con- 
querors in the same manner as tlieir own, in order 
thus to recruit their numbers. If, however, a prisoner be not 
put to death immediately after the battle, but handed over to 
some person whose relative had been formerly killed by the 
conquered party, he is roasted three days long before he gives 
up the ghost. It excites uncommon admiration if the sufferer 
constantly sing in the midst of his torture. Not- 
withstanding misdemeanors are not punished, 
wicked acts are of rare occurrence. Stolen property, whenever 
discovered, is ordered by the Chief to be restored. The next 
of kin of the murdered man mav kill the murderer, 

Death punishment. " 

if he overtake him within four and twenty hours. 
But if he avenge himself later, he is subject to be slain by the 
relative of the second victim, within the limit of the stated time. 
All obligations acquire their force from the accept- 
ulaSfpeaTe^. aucc of prcscuts. Tlicy proceed tlius : They take 
as many little sticks as there are conditions in their 
proposals. If tliey agree on all, each party, at tlie conclusion, lays 
his presents at tlie feet of the other. They sometimes hang up 
the presents, whilst they deliberate earnestly on the proposal 
during three days. If the present be accepted, the negotiation 
is firmly concluded ; but if not, they proceed no fui'ther in the 
matter, unless the applicant change the conditions and the pres- 
ent. On occasions of importance, a general assem- 

Public councils. i^jy .g j^^j .J .^^ ^^^^ j^^^^g^ ^^. ^j^^ ^^ ^j^g ^j^.^^g. .j^ ^^.^g^. 

that the sachems there assembled, may explain what has 
been concluded. Then the most eloquent rises and endeavours 
to render the determination popular with tlie masses. It some- 

VoL. IV. 9- 



130 DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHEKLAND. 

times happens that a ringleader will admit of no reasoning, 
whereupon some of the chiefs strikes the mutineer on the head 
with an axe. No one is so bold as to dare to mutter a 

word in such a case. No trace of divine worship 
Worship can hardly be discovered here. Only they ascribe 

great influence to tlie moon over the crops. The 
Sun, as all seeing, is taken to witness as often as tliey take an 

oath. They pay great reverence to the Devil, be- 
Devii worship. causc they fear great trouble from him when 

hunting and fishing : wherefore the first fruits of 
the chase is burnt in his lionor, so tliat they may not receive 
injury. If they experience pain in any part, they say — A Devil 

lurks in there. They fully acknowledge that a 
Jfcu^bu^l"^' ^"^ God dwells beyond the stars, who, however, gives 

himself no concern about the doings of Devils on 
earth : because he is constantly occupied with a beautiful God- 
dess, whose origin is unknown. Slie once came down from 
heaven into tlie water (for before the creation all was water,) 
and would have sunk, unless land had suddenly bubbled up 

under her feet. The land waxed bigger, so that 
weaibn?^ ""^ crclong a Avhole globe was perceptible, wliich 

quickly produced all sorts of vegetables and trees. 
Meanwhile, the goddess brouglit forth a deer, bear and wolf, 
and again cohabited with these animals : She thu^ became 
pregnant, and lay in of divers sorts of creatures at one birth. 
From this arises the variety not only of animals, but also of men, 
which in color are either black, white or sallow ; in disposition 
either timid as the deer, revengeful as bears or rapacious as 
wolves. After she had thus acted tlie Universal mother re- 
turned up to Heaven, where she enjoys perfect bliss with the 
Sovereign Lord, whom they know not nor ever saw ; wherefore 
they will be held less responsible than the Christians ; pretend- 
ing to acknowledge him a punisher of all wicked deeds which 
they commit notwithstanding, and it is with more difficulty tliat 
they can be brought from these adopted vices to Christianity. 

Regarding the souls of the Dead, they believe : 
SesouK^'"''"'^ that those who have done good enjoy every sort 

of pleasure in a temperate country to the South, 



DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 131 

where the bad wander about in misery. They believe tlie loud 
howhngs which wild animals make at night, to be the wailings 
of tlie gliosts of wicked bodies. ' 

The fertility and situation of JVew JVetherland induced tlie 

Burgomasters of Amsterdam to send a colony 
^Neu'eaaud. tliithcr. Wherefore they agreed 'with the West 

India Company with the approbation of the States 
General at the Hague. In the year sixteen hundred and fifty 
six, tliey shipped accordingly over to JYeio JYefherla?id seventy 
families, to which they added three hundred Waldenses who 
had been driven out of Piedmont. These embarked on the 
fifteenth of December by beat of drum. ^ Colonization prospered. 
Meanwhile, wlien the war between the English crown and the Uni- 
ted Netherlands broke out, the Dutch found themselves, after ten 
years possession, so powerless against the English tliat they sur- 
rendered to this nation. JVew Amsterdam obtained consequently 
the name of JYew York. The conquered inhabitants experienced 
great inconvenience inasmuch as Trade was suddenly brought 
to a stand. 



FIRST EMIGRANTS TO NEW NETHERLAND. 

[ From Baudartius. ] 

Inasmuch as the multitude of people, not only natives but 
foreigners, who are seeking a livelihood in the United Provinces is 
very great, so that where one stiver is to be earned there are ten 
hands ready to seize it, especially in Holland which is tlie 
reservoir of divers kingdoms and countries. Many are obliged, 
on this account, to go in search of other lands and residences 
where they can obtain a living more easily and at less expense. 
Accordingly, in the year 1624, as in previous years, divers 
families went from Holland to Virginia in the West Indies, a 
great portion of them being English, called Brownists, whom 
King James will not permit norsuffertolive in his land, because 
they hold and maintain divers points of religion improbated by 
tlie present church of England. 

1 The preceding part of this article seems to have been borrowed from Van 
der Donck's Beschrijving van Nieuw Nederlandt, published in Holland in 
1656. Ed. 

2 They settled in what is now the State of Delaware. Ed. 



132 DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

A ship arrived in August from that part of Virginia called 
New Netherland, wliicli had conveyed some families from Holland 
thither. This vessel brings many and various letters from 
private individuals, each written to friends and acquaintances, 
wliereuf tliis is mostly the tenor — 

" We were much gratified on arriving in this country ; Here 
we found beautiful rivers, bubbling fountains flowing down into 
the valleys ; basins of running waters in the flatlands, agreeable 
fruits in the woods, such as strawberries, pigeon berries, walnuts, 
and also voor labrusten or wild grapes. The w^oods abound with 
acorns for feeding hogs, and with venison. There is considerable 
fish in the rivers ; good tillage land ; here is, especially, free 
coming and going, without fear of the naked natives of the 
country. Had we cows, hogs, and other cattle fit for food 
(which we daily expect in the first ships) we would not wish to 
return to Holland, for whatever we desire in the paradise of 
Holland, is here to be found. If you will come hither with your 
family, you will not regret it." 

This and similar letters have roused and stimulated many to 
resolve to emigrate thither with their families, in the hope of 
being able to earn a handsome livelihood, strongly fancying that 
they will live there in luxury and ease, whilst here on the con- 
trary, they must earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. 
Baudartius' Gedenkwaardige Geschiedenissen zo kerkelyke ah 
■wereldlyke. 2 vols. fol. Arnhem. 1624. 

We translate the above from the Sheboygan JYieuwsbode of 1 5 
Sept. 1851. Gulielmus Baudartius (or Baudart) the author of 
the work from which it is borrowed, was Minister at Zutphen 
for a period of thirty six years. He was originally a native of 
Deinse in Flanders, and was selected at the Synod of Dort as one 
of the translators of the Old Testament — so great was his 
reputation as a Hebrew Scholar. He died at Zutphen in 1640, 
at the age of 66 years. A list of his works will be found in the 
. Biog. Universelle ; Biog. Diet. Watts &c. The Gcdenkwaardige 
Geschiedenissen, or Remarkable ecclesiastical and political Events, 
from 1603 to 1624, is represented as a sort of Supplement to Van 
Meteren's History. Ed. 

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